Bookholder



W. J. BARGEN BOOKHOLDEIIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1951 INVENTOR'Q Z Z iam JBargen ATTORNEYS W. J. BARGEN Dec. 15, 1953 BOOKHOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1951 IN VENTOR Wz 'ZZia. m :[Bar yen r 1v I IIII ll u [.1 ll Ff. 6

Z7 M /z Z ATTORNEYS Patented ec. 15,1953

STATE BOOKHOLDEIE. William James Bargcn, 'Waukeg'an, 111.

Application September 7, 1951, Serial No. 245,517

ZTClaims. 7'

This invention relates. to a book holder-or controller.

An object of this invention :is to provide an improved book holder for use with a stationary fiat desk or table top, or with a tilting desk or table top for holding a book, folio or the like ma predetermined reading position irrespective of the angular position of the top.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book holder which can be made out of plastic or composition material, such as fiber glass, combined with polyester, so as to produce a transluscent non-reflecting hard material -capable of withstanding hard usage.

A further object of a book holder having an adjustable rear support so that the inclination of the holder may be varied as may be desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a book holder which can be used on a tilting desk top or may be shifted to any suitable stationary supporting surface which may be either horizontal or inclined to the vertical.

A further object of this invention is to provide a book holder for a desk top which when in operative position will permit the use of the major portion of the top for writing or the like.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a book holder or controller constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the holder,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line ll--4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--B of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral H! designates generally a plate forming a rest against which a book, folio or other element is adapted to rest, and the plate It is formed with a marginal reinforcing flange H. The plate It has projecting from the lower end thereof a right angularly disposed wall l2, and a right angularly disposed upwardly projecting flange l3 extends from the wall l2.

this invention is to provide L The flange i3 is formed with a cutout I 3 formed in the upper edge thereof soas to provide for a relatively narrow flange-at the medial point .thereof, and relatively wide flanges at the opposite ends thereof. The flange i3 is adapted to hold the pages of a book in a position where a student may read-from the open book.

The :plate I!) is formed with a rearwardly offset vertically extending wall !5 which includes a pair of vertical guide flanges 56. A slide member 11 slidably engages the rear side of the offset I5 and includes hook-shaped opposite vertical edges it encompassing the flanges '15. The olfset wall '15 is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced apart keeper notches 19, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

A plate supporting or bracing member 28 extends from the slide I! and includes a hookshaped member 2| at the rear thereof which in one position of the holder is adaptedto engage in a trough or channel 22 formed in a desk top 23. The bracing or supporting member 29 is pivotally secured to a transversely disposed bar 24 which is fixed relative to the slide ll, the supporting member 26 being formed with right angular opposite flanges 25 and pivot members 26 extending through the flanges 25 and secured within the bar 24.

The forward end of the bracing or supporting member 20 has a locking member 21 projecting therefrom which extends through an opening 28 formed in the slide 11 and is adapted to engage in a selected one of the keeper notches H). A spring 29 is adapted to hold the supporting member 26 in either a collapsed or extended position and the spring 28 is formed with a loop 30 which engages in a notch 3! formed in the slide (1. The loop 3% has a pair of oppositely extending or crossed arms 32 projecting therefrom which are seated at their outer ends in openings 33 formed in the flanges 25. In the collapsed position of the bracing member 2% the openings 33 will be forwardly oliset from notch 3i, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in a position where a line passing between opening 33 and notch 3| will pass to the right or rearwardly of pivot 26.

The lower wall l2 has extending from the opposite ends thereof supporting feet members 34 which are formed with a substantially convex lower edge and the lower edge of each foot member 34 has notches or teeth 35 formed therein.

The holder hereinbefore described is adapted to be formed out of composition material such as plastic or the like, and preferably the holder 3 is adapted to be formed out of a combination of fiber glass and polyester.

In the use of this holder the book or other article is adapted to rest at its lower edge on the right angular bottom wall 12 and to lie fiat against the plate [0. The feed 34 are engaged with the supporting surface and the angular position of the plate I 0 with respect to the vertical is readily adjusted by rocking the supporting member 20 downwardly and then moving the slide H to the desired position, whereupon the plate I0 will be disposed at the predetermined book supporting angle. With a holder as hereinbefore described, a relatively fixed reading angle may be maintained with this holder irrespective of the inclination of the supporting surface.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A bOOK holder for use on a flat surface capable of being tilted and having an elongated channel therein comprising a plate, a right angular lower wall extending forwardly from the lower edge of said plate, an upwardly extending flange carried by the forward edge of said wall, a rearwardly offset vertical guide carried by said plate, a slide engaging said guide, said guide having a plurality of vertically spaced apart keeper notches, a bracing member pivotally carried by said slide, a downwardly directed hook carried by the rear free end of said bracing member, and a locking lug carried by said bracing member engageable in a selected keeper notch for locking said slide relative to said guide said hook being engageable in said channel to hold the holder against sliding when said surface is tilted.

2. A book holder for use on a fiat surface capable of being tilted and having an elongated channel therein comprising a plate, a right angular lower wall extending forwardly from the lower edge of said plate, an upwardly extending flange carried by the forward edge of said wall, a rearwardly offset vertical guide carried by said plate, a slide engaging said guide, said guide having a plurality of vertically spaced apart keeper notches, a bracing member pivotally carried by said slide, a downwardly directed hook carried by the rear free end of said bracing member, a locking lug carried by said bracing member engageable in a selected keeper notch for locking said slide relative to said guide, and a spring connected between said slide and bracing member for holding the latter in either collapsed or extended position said hook being engageable in said channel to hold the holder against sliding when said surface is tilted.

WILLIAM JAMES BARGEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 669,378 Baldwin Mar. 5, 1901 1,864,807 Dahlgren June 28, 1932 2,092,665 Davis Sept. 7, 1937 2,155,699 Connors Apr. 25, 1939 2,203,126 Bell et a1. June 4, 1940 2,355,653 Joyce Aug. 15, 1944 

